Stakeholder Engagement
Our Definition of Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement is the involvement of those with firsthand or “lived” experience as equal contributing members in an initiative. In research, stakeholder engagement provides new insights into the needs, priorities, and interests of those who use and are affected by research outcomes. When led in partnership with stakeholders, research can be more valid, accurate, and credible.
Our Definition of Student Mental Health
In the context of this initiative, student and youth mental health is inclusive of mental wellness, mental illness and substance misuse. It encompasses the full length of a student’s journey — from transitions into post-secondary education to graduation — and the full range of student mental health experience— from community and individual well-being to clinical intervention, inside the classroom and out.
We recognize that there is no one student experience at U of T. U of T students vary widely in age, identity, ability, and background, and in their mental health experiences both on and off campus. In order to best understand and address student mental health challenges at U of T, we will engage a diverse student voice on all aspects of this initiative. We intend to work with students from programs and departments at all three UofT campuses and at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Student Engagement
Inlight is committed to actively engaging students in the co-design of research and knowledge translation activities that directly impacts them.This research approach ensures that students are equal partners in the co-creation of the direction, development, and execution of student mental health research research.
Every year, Inlight works with a Student Advisory Committee composed of current graduate and undergraduate students from across the three University of Toronto campuses. The Inlight Student Advisory Committee will ensure the representation, prioritization, and engagement of diverse student voice in student mental health research and related activities across the University of Toronto.
The Call for Applications for the Student Advisory Committee for the 2022-2023 academic year will launch this Spring. Watch this space for more information!
“Students are integral to the understanding of student mental health – we are not only emerging researchers, practitioners, and advocates, but we also navigate life in post-secondary school every day.”
Emma McCann
Engagement Lead
To find out more about our approach to stakeholder engagement and current opportunities to get involved, please contact our team at studentmh.research@utoronto.ca.